The tarsands are a big undertaking. But Canada is a nation that does lots of big things. Tarsands generate about 2% of Canadian GDP. In addition, 90% of the economic benefit from tarsands stays in Alberta. The 10% that leaks out to the rest of Canada represents just 0.2% of GDP. Alberta does however share the many downsides of tarsands, like climate destabilization and international scorn with the rest of us equally.